Memorial Day 2021

 Today I remember all those who gave their lives while serving and protecting the United States.

Direct link to video

Blackhawk UH-60 helicopter crash (May 25th) Leesburg FL

It is with great sadness that I somewhat belatedly write about the fatal crash of a Blackhawk UH-60 on May 25, 2021 in Leesburg FL. All four people on board died in the crash. According to this May 26th NPR report, the helicopter was owned by Leesburg based Brainerd Helicopters. She was on a training mission when she went down. Flags in Florida were lowered to half mast in honor of those who died in the crash. 

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends, and all who loved the crew. My condolences to all at Brainerd. I know that the Blackhawk and crew are flying in favorable winds. 

2021 NJ wildfire season: Bass River Fire Tower’s role in Little Egg Harbor wildfire

One of the New Jersey Forest Fire Towers whose observer played a crucial role in spotting the Ballanger Fire that burned 617 acres on May 16th and 17th near Little Egg Harbor Township (Burlington and Ocean Counties), NJ was the Bass River Tower located in Bass River State Forest in the New Jersey Pinelands (aka the NJ Pine Barrens). According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (go here for link to the NJFFS page on fire towers), The Bass River Fire Tower (located in NJFFS Division B) was built in 1937 and is 80 feet tall. Before I get the important role of this fire tower in spotting the Ballanger Fire, a little history is in order.

Up until early 2020, the Bass River Fire Tower was surrounded on three sides by 80 to 100 foot tall White Pines, planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps. In recent years, these trees had grown to a height blocking the views from the cab of the fire tower in three directions (east, north and south). This made spotting some wildfires from this fire tower very difficult. A few years ago, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection -- the New Jersey Forest Fire Service is under the umbrella of the DEP -- started the process to get approvals to clear cut about 16 acres of tree around the fire tower to improve the view from the cab of the fire tower. Objections to clear cutting were raised by citizens, some local government officials, and some environmental organizations (including the Sierra Club) resulting in a delay in getting the necessary approvals. In 2019,  the Pinelands Commission approved the clear cutting plan and clear cutting operations began in January of 2020. You may read more about the clear cut on this January 2020 article in the Atlantic City Press (paywall with a couple of free views).

Once the clear cut was completed, sometime in 2020, there were good views in 360 degrees from the cab of the Bass River Fire Tower. The importance of this controversial clear cut was highlighted by the fact that the observer in the Bass River Fire Tower was able to spot the Ballanger Fire fairly quickly after the fire ignited on May 16th. There is a nice article from the by Douglas D. Melegari of the Pinebarrens Tribune about the role of the Bass River Fire Tower's observers on May 16th. He quotes Trevor Raynor, warden from NJFFS Section B:

In January of last year, the clear-cut finally took place, and the role the Bass River Fire Tower played in detecting the May 16 “Ballanger Fire” that consumed 617 acres of the Bass River State Forest in both Bass River and Little Egg Harbor townships, according to NJFFS Section B Firewarden Trevor Raynor, in response to a question posed by this newspaper during a May 18 NJFFS teleconference with the media, “was super important.”

 

“This fire tower was only a few miles away (from the blaze) and was able to detect this fire quickly and avert disaster, honestly,” Raynor said. “If we used any other system, or relied on 911 for this fire’s detection, by the time that this fire would have been detected and reported (to us) by 911 (dispatch), it would have been at the back of people’s houses, and then it would have been too late, and surely there would have been damage to homes.” 

 

 

2021 wildfire season: 7 acre brush fire -- San Diego County CA (May 22nd)

Thanks to my friends at NJFFS Section B10 for sharing a short video on May 23rd (videos updated daily) about a brush fire near the I-15 interstate in northern San Diego County, California. The brush fire, dubbed the Deer Fire, was first reported on May 22nd per this CAL FIRE San Diego Twitter post. Two S2-T tankers from Ramona Air Attack Base and about three helicopters responded to the wildfire to assist the firefighters on the ground in containing this fire. By late in the day on May 23rd, CAL FIRE San Diego reported that the Deer Fire was contained at 7.5 acres. The fire appeared to have started along the I-15. According to a report by CBS8 in San Diego (see the video that I embedded below), this brush fire may have started by a catalytic converter that came off a vehicle on the I-15, landing on the hill immediately adjoining the I-15.

I am always on the look out for videos showing air resources assisting wildland firefighters on the ground to fight a smaller brush fire. While this video is specific to California and the availability of CAL FIRE air resources, you can see what a difference a coordinated attack from the air and on the ground can make in keeping a brush fire on the smaller side. At the end of this video, you will learn about what California residents can do to protect their homes from wildfires. Again while specific to southern California, there are lessons here for all of us.

Direct link to video from CBS8 in San Diego

Coulson Aviation on night flying

Coulson Aviation has contracts  with the US Forest Service and internationally where they fly their fleet of aircraft to help the wildland firefighters on the ground. There fleet includes: 

• Chinook CH-47 Helitankers
• Blackhawk UH60 Helitankers
• 737 Fireliner
• C-130 Hercules
• Sikorsky S-61 Helicopters
• Sikorsky S-76 Helicopters

Coulson has a nice presence on Facebook where they post great photos and videos of their fleet in action as well as photos of their fleet being transported overseas. Today I come to you to share a one-minute video they recently shared on their Facebook page about their night time aerial suppression operations. (Coulson's Facebook page may be found here). Enjoy.

Kudos to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for a job well done (May16-18 wildfires)

I want to give a shout out, as I can via this blog, to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for your hard work fighting two wildfires in New Jersey the past three days, the Ballanger Fire and the Turkey Buzzard Fire, both are now contained with no property damage and no injuries reported. You stayed safe. Would if I could be in the fire area with a sign of thank-you and perhaps some goodies to express my gratitude for a job well done. But that is not possible, so this will have to do. Thankfully you contained both fires quickly so perhaps time away from your loved ones was minimal. I know that some of you are patrolling the area with the fires burned to do mop up duty and to be sure that the containment lines hold. While dry and with low relative humidity (for New Jersey), the winds are calm. That is a blessing. 

And while crews were working the Ballanger And Turkey Buzzard Fires, other NJFFS crews were and still are working other wildfires elsewhere in the State. 

As I can and as is appropriate, I am not shy in telling all how proud I am of all of you in the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, your contractors, mutual aid responders and various supporting agencies. It brought a tear to my eye to know that local fire companies were on the scene to provide assistance. 

In closing, I want to share a short video from CBS3 in Philadelphia reporting on both wildfires. The video report appears to have been made before the Turkey Buzzard Fire was contained.

Direct link to video from CBS3 in Philadelphia

2021 NJ wildfire season: wildfire in Brendon T Byrne State Forest (Burlington) Contained

Just now hearing that the Turkey Buzzard Fire that burned 407 acres in the Brendon T. Byrne State Forest in Burlington County, NJ has been contained. The Batona Trail in the fire area remains closed, roads are open. 

I want to give a shout out to the NJ Forest Fire Service for a job well done in fighting these two back to back wildfires. I am so very, very proud of you. You take good care of us in New Jersey.

2021 NJ wildfire season: Little Egg Harbor Twnshp Fire Contained

Yesterday I wrote about a wildfire in Little Egg Harbor Township, that my friends from NJFFS Section B10 call the Ballenger Fire. This fire is at 100% containment. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported. Evacuations were voluntary, not mandatory.

Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today wrote an article on this fire on May 17th including an excellent map of the fire and a list of resources. I would suggest that you look at Bill's article to look at his mapping of the fire.

2021 NJ wildfire season: wildfire in Brendon T Byrne State Forest (Burlington)

Thanks a good friend who gave me a heads up about a second wildfire in New Jersey. A wildfire, known as the Turkey Buzzard Fire, was reported at about 10:20 PM on Monday, May 17th in the Brendon T. Byrne State Forest in Pemberton NJ (Burlington County). It has burned about 407 acres, and according to a NJ Advance Media report (May 18th) is at approximately 50% containment. Portions of a popular hiking trail, the Batona Trail remain closed. This is the second wildfire in two days, the first one being the Ballanger Fire in Little Egg Harbor Township that is now at 100% containment. No structures have been damaged in either fire and no injuries have been reported.

I thank my friends from NJFFS Section B-10 for the names of these two wildfires. 

CBS3 in Philadelphia has a short report with a brief video on the wildfire in the Brendon T. Byrne State Forest. 

2021 NJ wildfire season: Little Egg Harbor Twnshp Fire Update

I would like to follow-up on the post I made earlier today on the wildfire in Little Egg Harbor Township -- known as the Ballanger Fire -- on the border of Ocean and Burlington Counties in New Jersey. Here is an evening update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Residences are no longer threatened and all roads are open. A NJ Forest Fire Service helicopter flew over the fire, I do not know if it was an observation helicopter or if it made bucket drops. Thanks to my friends at NJFFS Section B10 for the name of this wildfire.

Corrected on May 18th to say that at the time I wrote the article I did not know if the helicopter was observation only or making bucket drops. I just read Bill Gabbert's May 17th article where he reported that the helicopter was making observation flights. Thank-you Bill!

2021 NJ wildfire season: Little Egg Harbor Twnshp (Ocean) wildfire

10:16 AM update Thanks to 6ABC (WPVI), I just now listened to the Press Conference (live) from the NJ Forest Fire Service. I amm not sure if 6ABC has had a chance to update their report yet, but I took notes. Thanks to the efforts of the wildland firefighters last night, the acreage burned has been decreased to 617 acres at about 40 percent containment. Route 9 is reopened but I believe that local roads may still be closed. Thirty houses are threatened, down from 75 last night. They are hopeful for higher containment later today.

At about 11:45 AM 6ABC (WPVI) has updated their story to include a video from the NJFFS 10 AM press conference, see the link above. It appears that they are updating this report as the day progresses. In addition, NJ Advance Media published a second article at about 11:40 AM. Since I was relying on my notes when I wrote the paragraph above, I am relieved that they too reported that Route 9 has reopened and that there are thirty houses that are threatened. I will continue to monitor news of the wildfire, as I can through the afternoon.

9:47 AM Thanks to a breaking news alert from NJ Advance Media that I received this morning (May 17th), I learned of a wildfire in Little Egg Harbor Township on the border of Burlington and Ocean Counties. This wildfire was first reported yesterday afternoon at about 4 PM by the Bass River Fire Tower. On Sunday night it was estimated to have burned about 70 acres, by this morning the estimate of burned acreage had grown to about 1,000 acres. Voluntary evacuations are in place and an evacuation center has been set up at a local school. The fire is burning east of the Garden State Parkway with sections of Route 9, a major thoroughfare in the area, reported as being closed. No injuries have been reported. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service and local fire companies are working the fire.

6ABC (WPVI) in Philadelphia has a report this morning with a video that I will try to embed below. As always, I am never quite sure how long this video will be accessible, but it should be accessible for a few days. Full report from 6ABC (May 17th, 7:39 AM) including video. The Atlantic City Press is also covering this fire, their May 17th article may be found here (may have a paywall).

More about NWS Incident Meteorologists

On May 3rd, I made my first post of 2021 on NWS Incident Meteorologists where I shared a very nice video about what Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) do. The video that I shared last week has good information and while it is a few years old by now, the information in the video reflects good science. Just the other day,  thanks to my friends from the NWS IMET office on Facebook, I learned about a nice video that is under three minutes from the US National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Burlington VT where two of their Meteorologists are IMETs.  I enjoyed this short video and I hope that you do as well. What follows is a link to the tweet from the NWS Burlington VT Weather Forecast Office with the video. If the full tweet with the video does not show up for you it is because you are using some sort of ad blocker. It is up to you whether or not you disable your tracker, if you do not want to disable your ad blocker or tracker,  click on the link in the second line and you should be directed to the Tweet.   IMETs save lives!

For today's #WeatherKnowledgeWednesday we are going to learn about the National Weather Service's Incident Meteorologist Program. @NWS_IMET_OPS pic.twitter.com/a2dbgADwl8

— NWS Burlington (@NWSBurlington) May 12, 2021

2021 wildfire season: Port St. Lucie Fl brushfire

 In my reading of wildfire activity in the United States the last couple of days, I have been focusing on what is happening on the east coast a 94 acre brush fire near the Spanish Lakes community in Port St. Lucie, Florida caught my eye. Partly because I am interested in the Florida environment but also because of the video that I share below with a discussion of one of the lightning strikes that started the fire. 

I will reflect on my thoughts about the video, but first a little about this brush fire in Port St. Lucie. According to this May 10th report from NBC 5 WPTV in West Palm Beach Florida: as of Monday afternoon the brush fire which was first reported on Sunday afternoon had burned 94 acres, three homes and two vehicles were damaged. Fortunately there were no injuries. Evacuations were in place on Sunday afternoon and evening for nearby residential communities. According the the Florida Forest Service - Active Wildfire Points Dashboard (see the screen shot), the brushfire burned a total of 104 acres and is contained.

Screen shot taken at 1120 AM on May 12, 2021 from this FL Forest Fire Service Dashboard

My friends from NJFFS Section B10 posts three or four videos of wildfire news from around the U.S. on their home page day. At times they also post wildfire videos from around the world. On May 10th, they shared to following video from WPBF 25 in West Palm Beach FL with a May 10th update about the Port St. Lucie brushfire. As I stated earlier, this brushfire was started by a lightning strike. I have have had lightning strike a tree on my property and am familiar with the scars that lightning causes. I am, of course, aware that lightning is one cause of brush and wildfires. Until now, I had not had the benefit of seeing a knowledgeable wildfire fighter show us ad explain how a lightning strike sparked a brushfire.

Direct link to video from WPBF 25

2021 wildfire season: National Guard UH60 Blackhawks assist in North Dakota wildfires

Direct link to video

One of the aerial assets that most States in the United States have to assist wildland firefighters on the ground when conditions warrant are the aerial assets of the National Guard or Reserve units located in their State. In many cases, the aerial asset is the UH60 Blackhawk Helicopter. I am not certain of how much water the bambi buckets on the Blackhawks can carry but I believe that it is at least 500 gallons, perhaps more. I know that my own state of New Jersey has a National Guard unit with Sikorsky UH60 Black Hawks that can be used to fight wildfires if requested.

Thanks to Mike Archer of the Wildfire News of the Day Newsletter for May 10th, I found a nice report from KFYR in Bismark, North Dakota of a behind the scenes look at preparing National Guard Blackhawks to work wildfires. North Dakota has had at least two instances this year where the North Dakota National Guard's Blackhawks have been deployed to fight wildfires. As always, I am never quite sure how long news organizations maintain the link to their reports but it should be up for awhile.

Blackhawks and other helicopters from the National Guard and other military reserve units are an invaluable resource to assist wildland firefighters when conditons warrant. While I do not believe that National Guard Blackhawks have been deployed in New Jersey to assist in wildland firefighting, I am very glad that they are around to assist should the need arise.

69 Bravo helitanker refill station (Topanga, CA)

I knew from videos that there was a helipad somewhere in LA County where helitankers could go to refill their belly tanks while working wildland fires. Thanks to my friends at Coulson Aviation, I learned of a video (embedded below) about 69 Bravo and the underlying technology. There are four pumpkins, each have a capacity of approximately 6,000 gallons, where the helitankers refill their belly tanks. What fascinated me is that the pumpkins refill automatically. 69 Bravo, opened in 2010. is possible because of the generosity of Simon T. There is a nice November 2019 LA Times article (paywall) on 69 Bravo which you may read for more information, here is an excerpt from that LA Times article explaining the importance of Bravo 69:

The base has been vital over the years for dousing fires in Calabasas, Monte Nido, Pacific Palisades, eastern Malibu and Topanga — areas frequently on high alert, given the narrow evacuation routes. The rugged canyons within a five-mile radius of the site are home to more than 11,000 structures, most of them residential, and more than 30,000 residents, according to a Times analysis of building footprints and population data.

The base is also used by medical helicopters and deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for other emergencies. A patrol vehicle remains there just in case.

And the site is a resource for fighting fires farther away, as drought and sanitation efforts, such as the covering of Santa Ynez Reservoir in Palisades Highlands, have made other water sources less accessible.

Here are two images from Google Earth. The first image shows the location of 69 Bravo and the second image is a close-up.

Added on May 9, 2021: I seemed to have missed the fact that the four pumpkins were upgraded from 6,000 gallons each to 8,000 gallons each.Thanks to Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation for his fine reporting, in particular the article he wrote on May 8th about the upgrades at 69 Bravo.

Enjoy this five minute video from 69 Bravo where you will learn a little about the importance of the location of 69 Bravo, some of the technology, and some background information.

Direct link to video from 69Bravo

Matt, I post this in your memory. You would love this. May you fly in favorable winds.

Lets look at a SEAT in action

I am in the mood to get in the cockpit with a SEAT pilot. Enjoy this video where you will hear commentary about what is involved in flying a SEAT on a fire. Allow about 11 minutes to watch the video.

Direct link to video

2021 wildfire season: NWS Incident Meteorologist deployments (April 27th)

As I write this National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists (IMETs)are beginning to be deployed to wildfires. Already IMETs have been deployed to three incidents, all were deployed on April 27th:

• A meteorologist from the US NWS in Pueblo Colorado was deployed to the San Juan National Forest for the San Juan National Forest Prescribed Burn Program that is being conducted this spring.
• A meteorologist from the US NWS in El Paso, Texas was deployed to the Three Rivers Fire burning in the Lincoln National Forest near Alamogordo, NM (7,119 acres)
• A meteorologist from the US NWS in Flagstaff, Arizona was deployed to the Flag Fire near Kingman, AZ (1,265 acres)

I want to pause and offer a great article from the National Weather Service called "Eyes in the Sky: A Day in the Life of an Incident Meteorologist (IMET) on the Front Lines of a Wildfire." It is a short article. Long time readers may recognize the article as I have referred to it in prior years. Here is an excerpt.

IMETs are located in numerous NWS offices across the country. Once a large wildfire has started, an IMET is contacted and given orders to travel to the site of the fire as quickly as possible. Ken Simosko, an IMET with the NWS Bismarck Weather Forecast Office (WFO), has worked five fire incidents. “You have to be ready at a moment’s notice. I have my bag ready to go so that when I get the call, I can spend my time getting spun up on the history of the fire, its current and future situation. Usually an IMET is on scene within 24 hours to 48 hours of the initial call. This depends on the mode of travel [car or plane] and how far the IMET is from the wildland fire.”

At the fire site, the IMETs check in at the incident command center. This is usually located relatively near the active wildfire and is either part of a temporary tent or trailer camp that is set up for those who are working the event. “Depending on the size of the fire there can be hundreds of folks involved. Some people bring tents to sleep in. I usually bring a blow-up mattress and sleep in the back of my truck. The command center supplies food and brings in shower and bathroom facilities on a flatbed for all of us who are working the event,” says Simosko.

Each IMET deployment lasts around two weeks, or until the wildfire is considered contained. If a fire lasts more than two weeks, another IMET will be sent to relieve the one who has just completed their two weeks on-site. There is very little “down time” when working a wildfire.

Here is a nice short video that I have posted before. You will hear from NWS IMET Jeremy Wolf in a 2014 video.

Direct link to video on Youtube